Introducing the Art Wall

Upon entering the new BAMPFA, visitors will immediately encounter the Art Wall, a 60 x 25-foot interior wall that will be a key site for commissioned artworks in the new building. Visible from Center Street through the large front windows, the Art Wall provides a dramatic setting for large-scale projects by leading international artists. The first commission is from Chinese artist Qiu Zhijie, who will visit Berkeley in January to create an ink wall drawing, The World Garden, as part of Architecture of Life. The subject of the mural is the Chinese literati garden and its role as a locus for solitary scholarly contemplation, a theme that resonates in our university context. Qiu Zhijie, one of China's most recognized contemporary artists, is also an accomplished writer, professor, and curator.